Nearly a year after a fire destroyed Nederland’s Caribou Village shopping center, developers are preparing plans for a new complex at the site, with construction tentatively expected to begin next spring and an opening targeted for 2028. The fire broke out just before 4 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2025, destroying a commercial center that housed more than a dozen small businesses and contributed substantially to the town’s sales tax revenue. Cleanup took months, delayed in part by disagreements over state cleanup procedures. The former shopping center’s footprint remains vacant. Ben Myers of Tebo Properties, which managed the center before the fire, said the redevelopment is intended to retain its mountain look while meeting current building standards. Plans call for more sprinklers, improved accessibility and fire-resistant materials. The proposed business spaces would be about 1,600 square feet each, a size Myers hopes will help make them affordable for independent businesses. Costs have not yet been determined. Before the fire, the center was fully occupied, he said, and the leasing goal is to bring back a similarly varied mix of businesses. Developers expect to submit plans for the property Thursday. Myers is also scheduled to meet with former business owners Friday to discuss the proposal and hear their feedback. Some displaced businesses have found other locations; others are waiting to learn whether they can return. The fire left the nearby Carousel of Happiness standing. Founder Scott Harrison, who went to the scene and tried to help firefighters with a garden hose, said the carousel’s continued operation has been a source of comfort for residents. A small piece of charred wood remains on the carousel’s exterior, and a plaque recognizing the fire and the community’s recovery is expected to be placed nearby in the coming days.